These Are The States That Suffer The Most Car Thefts

Cars & Bikes
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When you think of Alaska, wide-open spaces, mountains, glaciers, and forests likely come to mind. Despite it being all that and more, a recent report conducted by the fleet management website ExpertMarket.comsuggests the nation’s least-populated state suffers the most car thefts per capita in the nation, at 575.6 vehicles stolen for every 100,000 residents.

Despite being densely populated and having many more cars on the road, those living in northeastern states can feel the most secure in this regard. According to the report, Vermont, Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania residents suffer the fewest car theft rates in the nation.

Here are the top 10 states in the U.S. the study determined endure the most annual auto thefts per capita, and the number of vehicles taken for every 100,000 residents:

Alaska: 575.6

New Mexico: 563.8

Nevada: 427.3

California: 425.9

Oregon: 413.7

Colorado: 389.9

Washington: 388.8

District of Columbia: 372.8

Hawaii: 369.1

Missouri: 325.9

Though the number of cars being stolen has dropped considerably since they peaked at 1.7 million units back in 1991 – thanks largely to improvements in vehicle manufacturing and technology – more than 765,000 vehicles were illegally appropriated annually at last count. What’s more, only around 41 percent of stolen vehicles are ever found and even when the authorities do get hold of them, the recovery fees can amount to hundreds of dollars.

As it turns out, Honda models are the most popular rides among car thieves, and they top the list of pilfered autos in 19 states. Older versions of popular models like the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry are most frequently targeted because they’re worth more money dismantled at so-called chop shops as an amalgam of recycled repair parts than they are as unified used cars.

Though car thefts overall have been dropping, they’ve skyrocketed the past few years in one disturbing regard. According to the NICB, an average of an average of 209 vehicles are stolen in the U.S. every single day, simply because the keys or the keyless entry key fob were left in the vehicle while parked in an owner’s driveway or at the convenience store. Some were even left unlocked and running with the keys in them while unattended.

This amounts to 229,339 cars and trucks stolen for the most boneheaded reason imaginable from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018, which is a 56 percent increase since 2015. Going back to 2013, the increase in thefts due to sheer carelessness balloons to 88 percent.

The top five states registering the most thefts with keys left in the vehicle during the aforementioned three-year period are: California (31,185); Florida (17,300); Texas (15,511); Ohio (12,596) and Nevada (11,391). Among metropolitan areas, foolish auto owners became victims most frequently in Las Vegas, NV (11,073); Miami, FL (7,549); Atlanta, GA (7,501); Chicago, IL (7,086); and Dallas, TX (6,603).

In addition to never leaving a vehicle running or with the keys inside while unattended, the NICB further advises motorists to never leave a garage door opener transceiver or a vehicle’s registration or other papers with personal information within the vehicle to avoid becoming a victim of a more serious crime. If someone breaks into your car they can use the documentation to learn your address, drive to your home, and click on the transceiver to gain entry to the garage and whatever valuables are stored inside. Worse, a crook could obtain access to the rest of the house if the garage is attached, especially if the inside door is left unlocked.

The NICB says it’s best to instead carry photos of all auto-related documents stored in your cell phone. Another alternative is to make a photocopy of the registration and insurance information, white out your address, and then make a copy of the redacted version to keep in the glovebox. Either way, a law enforcement officer can usually verify your registration information via the computer in his or her squad car.